Process for the production of curling tongs



Nov. 9, 1965 l. KOHL-RECKNAGEL 3,216,103

PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GURLING' TONGS Filed Jan. 12, 1962 flvmvrop INGEBURG KOHL-RECKNAGEL United States Patent 3,216,103 PROCESS FOR Tim PRUDUCTION F CURLING TQNGS Ingeburg Kohl-Recknagel, 13 Carl-Leverkus-Strasse, Langenfeld, Rhineland, Germany Filed Jan. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 165,773 2 filaims. ((11. 29-437) Parts of curling tongs have heretofore been mostly forged by hand, an art to be achieved by specially trained artisans only.

This invention relates to the problem of producing in ready shape both of the main parts of curling tongs, namely the so called channelled beak, the working leg of which is formed as a trough shaped channel, as well as the second part, the working leg of which is of round shape, by way of hot die forging in a simple but sure manner, without the danger arising of warping or cracking of the blanks. The first mentioned part with a channel shaped working leg is also simply designated as channelled beak the second part, the working leg of which is of circular cross section is nammed pointed beak. Both of these parts may be united according to the invention by help of their median or medial portions, i.e. the channelled beak in its enlarged median or medial portion is provided with an aperture or opening, through which the second part, the pointed beak, may be pushed with its round working leg. Both of these parts are then united in an articulately movable manner with each other at these median or medial portions.

A special difficulty that arises is the problem of effecting the balance of the masses of the working legs and the handles of the parts of the curling tongs in such a way, that shaping of the punched through median portion of the tongs may be carried out, without the danger arising of formation of cracks in the walls of this median portion, which walls have only a small width.

Because of the difficulties outlined, the possibility of obtaining ready-shaped parts of curling tongs not by hand forging, but by way of hot die forging with the aid of a forging press, was by no means merely a logical development. On the contrary, mechanical die forging of such parts has so far not been adopted, as the difficulties, especially when forging the channelled beak, were considerable on account of the danger of formation of cracks. Such formation of cracks was especially suspected for the portion connecting the handle and the working legs to the median portion of the curling tongs. Difficulties were also encountered when die forging the pointed beak as the shape obtained often showed irregularities, demanding increased grinding work.

Numerous experiments were necessary before a manner of working was found which was suitable for the mechanical hot die forging of parts of curling tongs with channelled beak and pierced median portion, as well as the pointed beak.

The procedures invented on the basis of these experiments is characterized by the following stages:

At first for the blank of the channelled beak a detached segmental part is punched out from a flat steel, said segmental part having an enlarged median portion, for instance of substantially parallelogram shape. This segmental part is forged edgeways in a blank procedure (first hot die forging stage) to a pre-heating part, already showing the working leg in a fluted rounded shape as well as a handle of substantially circular cross section. The working leg mentioned and the handle are connected to each other by way of a median portion, showing already the definite shape with strong curves, where the outer ridge planes and a bridge of approximately the width of a ridge remain. It is essential that the median portion connecting the working leg, which is of channelled shape in its blank form, to the handle be cranked in such a way that the one end of the crank extends in the direction of the channelled working leg, and the other end of the crank runs in the direction of the handle. In a finishing procedure (second hot die forging stage) the work piece still preserving some of its heat is finish-shaped in such a way that the mentioned curves are removed by embossing, the ridges or flash are trimmed and the median portion of the channelled beak is punched through. The hot die forging, according to the invention, of the pointed beak is effected in the same way. At first a segmental part is produced, having an enlarged, for instance parallelogram shaped, median portion. This punched out piece is preheated and forged in a blank to a pre-heating piece having strong curves in the median portion, while outer edge planes still remain. Afterwards in a finisher using the remaining heat of the work piece, the curves mentioned are removed by die embossing.

It is evident, that during the die forging procedure, as outlined, in two stages, not only the channelled beak, but also the pointed beak may be produced while avoiding the above mentioned difiiculties, so that the formation of cracks may also be avoided and the subsequent finishing work, for instance of grinding, is also considerably reduced.

It is suitable for the production of the channelled beak to proceed in the following manner: to produce by die forging a median portion having walls wider apart than the required wall distance, it being thus made possible to push through the former a die forged pointed beak, provided with conically shaped nipples, serving as pivots. Subsequently after the pushing through of said pointed beak, the walls of the median portion of the channelled beak are laterally pressed together, so that the mentioned nipples provided at the pointed beak enter into the sidewalls of the opening of the median portion.

In the practice of the process according to the invention, it has proved possible to produce by die forging the parts of the curling tongs from steel capable of being hardened, for instance Siemens-Martin-steel, thus not only obtaining a more uniform shape and more accurate work pieces with a smaller amount of looseness only, than there could be obtained heretofore by hand forging of iron not permitting its being hardened, but also the hardness and stiffness of the working piece produced could be considerably increased. Starting from detached segments per se if possible without any scrap output-is well known in forging techniques. They are for instance also known as castings for tongs parts and they are herewith die forged in edgeways position.

During the die forging of the median portion of the channelled beak special difficulties had to be considered, as the ribs produced to serve as side walls of the median portion are set close together, they had therefore to be forged in a way giving them a spacing other than the finally required spacing of the walls. Starting with the rectangular section, set edgeways, the die forging is thus made possible by the ingenious combination of a number of singular measures described.

The production of the punched through median portion, the width of which is at first larger than the final width desired, makes furthermore possible, after the trimming of the ridges of the forged pieces and after the cutting out of the bridge, an advantageous connecting of the median portions of the pointed beak and the channelled beak, by pressing together according to the further course of the invention, the walls of the median portion of the channelled beak.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

3 FIGURE'l shows an elevated view of a detached segment,

FIGURE 2 shows a side View of the same detached segment,

FIGURE 3 shows a ready die forged channelled beak in side view,

FIGURE 4 shows the same work piece in view from above,

FIGURE 5 shows the work piece in side view, after the trimming of the ridges and cutting out of the bridge,

FIGURE 6 shows the work piece in a view from above, according to FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 shows a blank-forged pointed beak in side view, and

FIGURE 8 shows channelled beak and pointed beak united, after the shoving through of the pointed beak through the opening of the pierced median portion, as well as after the lateral pressing together of the aforesaid median portion, in an elevated view.

In detail the hot die forging according to the invention, of curling tong parts, is carried out as follows:

Detached segments for the channelled beak as well as for the pointed beak are cut out of flat material, for instance fr'om Siemens-Martin-flat steel, with dimensions of 100 x 8 mm., on excentric presses by way of fashion cutting. The cut oiI parts are of a shape seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, Le. they consist of the leg 1 serving for the formation of the handle, the median portion 2, shaped sub stantially like a parallelogram, and the end portion 3, to be formed later on as a working leg.

The detached segments are heated up to 1000 to 1100 C. and are submitted one after the other to a staged forging under the punches two die forges set adjacently, namely a blank and a finisher. At first the detached segments are forged in an edgeways on position to blank pieces, the median portion of which shows large flutes at the ribs which are produced toward the outer ridge and toward the bridge and which are of about ridge Width. In order to provide sufiicient space for the inner flutes, the distances between the ribs forming the walls of the median portion are kept larger than the distance between the walls of the median portion of the mounted tongs. Subsequently the flutes are die trimmed by a subsequent finishing, so that the median portion obtains its definite shape, the walls of its opening to be pierced however, having a larger distance apart than those of the finished one. In FIGURE 3, the channelled beak is represented after this finishing forging. The handle la has already received the shape of a cylindrical rod, and the working leg, ie, the channelled beak 3a proper is finish-forged into channel shape, while the pierced median portion 2a is still provided with a bridge. The handle, median portion and working legs are still surrounded by a circumferential ridge 4, the width of which corresponds about to the width of the bridge of the median portion 2a.

Hereupon the trimming of the ridges of the channelled beak ensues as Well as the punching through of the median portion to be pierced. In this shape the channelled beak is represented in side view in FIGURE 5 and in a front view in FIGURE 6. Similar reference numbers designate similar parts of FIGURES 3 and 4. The opening to be pierced of the median portion is designated as number 5.

T he channelled beakcoming from the die forge-at its shoulders still bears a minor ridge which is removed by a separated grinding procedure.

FIGURE 7 shows a die forged pointed beak after the finishing forging and the removal of the ridges which is ready for use.

It consists of a rod shaped, preferably cylindrically shaped, handle 1b, and a median portion 2b, and a working leg 3b, shaped substantially cylindrically, somewhat tapered at its top and shaped corresponding to the channel of the channelled beak. The lateral surfaces of the median portion 2b are provided with nipples 6, 7.

The channelled beak at its pierced median portion is suitably forged with a wall distance, larger than the wall distance required in the finished state, so that after the punching through of the opening 5 the pointed beak, shaped according to FIGURE 7, may be shoved through said opening without difliculty.

After the uniting of both the median portions the lateral areas of the median portion of the channelled beak are pressed together, whereby the nipples 6 and 7 provide at both sides of the pointed beak press themselves into the inner walls of the opening 5 of the channelled beak. In this shape the curling tongs are adjusted without further working in such a way, that the portions situated at both sides of the pivoting points are substantially balanced with regard to each other. The adjustment necessary with hand forged curling tongs before the perforating and riveting is thus rendered unnecessary. The forged parts are then ground, freed from their ridges or flash, and adjusted in the Way described. By using grinding discs and brushes three stages of grinding are carried out (rough grinding, finish grinding and polishing) for the surface treatment of the working surface of the pointed beak. The channelled surface of the channelled beak demands an especially thorough and precise inside grinding as only a channelled beak completely even at its inner surface enables the hair dresser to seize the hair in the exact manner. It is furthermore to be considered that the grinding work is facilitated by the kind of production described of the parts of the curling tongs because parts which are die forged are per se more exact with regard to measure ments than hand forged parts.

The procedure described may advantageously be applied for the production of tongs for fashioning hair waves, curls, and locks of all styles and sizes. For these purposes the curling tongs may be shaped and varied in many 'ways with regard to their construction, for instance with simple steel handles, isolated handles, rolling han dles, and even with simple wooden handles. An essential advantage of the tongs produced according to the invention is found in their increased durability as well as the possibility of mass production under considerable reduction of costs, without employing expert workers. A further advantage is that the die forged blank parts produced will show considerably more exact measures than hand forged parts, so that the grinding work, although unavoidable, in considerably simplified and reduced. Furthermore an advantage, as already mentioned above, is given by the possibility of using high degree hardened steels.

I claim:

1. Process for the die forging of the parts of curling tongs having a channelled beak with a punched through medial portion and a pointed beak to be pushed through said medial portion, said process comprising heating separate segments with enlarged medial portions serving for the formation of a channelled beak and a pointed beak, edgeways blank forging said segments while they are heated to approximate the shape of the curling tong parts with enlarged medial portions, die finish embossing said forged segments whereby said embossed segments are given the shape of the curling tong parts, said embossing forming outwardly protruding pivot nipples on the medial portion of the pointed beak, forming an aperture in the medial portion of the channelled beak, inserting the pivot nipples on the medial portion of the pointed beak into the aperture in the medial portion of the channelled beak and compressing the 'walls of the aperture in the medial portion of the channelled beak against the pivot nipples on the medial portion of the pointed beak whereby the parts are assembled for articulate movement.

2. Process for the die forging of the parts of curling tongs having a channelled beak with a punched through medial portion and a pointed beak inserted through said medial portion, said process comprising heating separate segments with enlarged medial portions serving for the formation of the channelled beak and the pointed beak,

5 edgeways blank forging the heated segments to blank parts defining an approximate shape of the curling tong parts having strong curvations with enlarged medial portions, die finish embossing the forged segments while still heated, die trimming the medial portions of the embossed segments to remove flash formed during said embossing, punching through the medial portion of the channelled beak to form an aperture, said embossing forming outwardly protruding pivot nipples on the medial portion of the pointed beak, inserting the pivot nipples on the medial portion of the pointed beak into the aperture in the medial portion of the channelled beak and compressing the walls of the aperture in the medial portion of the channelled beak against the pivot nipples of the medial portion of the pointed beak whereby the parts are articulately movable.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Snediker 7698 Smith 7698 Irish 2-9552 Matthes 13237 Dodd 13237 Price 13237 Price l32-37 Anderson 29552 WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, CHARLIE T. MOON,

Examiners. 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE DIE FORGING OF THE PARTS OF CURLING TONGS HAVING A CHANNELED BEAK WITH A PUNCHED THROUGH MEDIAL PORTION AND A POINTED BEAK TO BE PUSHED THROUGH SAID MEDIAL PORTION, SAID PROCESS COMPRISING HEATING SEPARATE SEGMENTS WITH ENLARGED MEDIAL PORTIONS SERVING FOR THE FORMATION OF A CHANNELED BEAK AND A POINTED BEAK, EDGEWAYS BLANK FORGING SAID SEGMENTS WHILE THEY ARE HEATED TO APPROXIMATE THE SHAPE OF THE CURLING TONG PARTS WITH ENLARGED MEDIAL PORTIONS, DIE FINISH EMBOSSING SAID FORGED SEGMENTS WHEREBY SAID EMBOSSED SEGMENTS ARE GIVEN THE SHAPE OF THE CURLING TONG PARTS, SAID EMBOSSING FORMING OUTWARDLY PROTRUDING PIVOT NIPPLES ON THE MEDIAL PORTION OF THE POINTED BEAK, FORMING AN APERTURE IN THE MEDIAL PORTION OF THE CHANNELED BEAK, INSERTING THE PIVOT NIPPLES ON THE MEDIAL PORTION OF THE POINTED BEAK INTO THE APERTURE IN THE MEDIAL PORTION OF THE CHANNELED BEAK AND COMPRESSING THE WALLS OF THE APERTURE IN THE MEDIAL PORTION OF THE CHANNELED BEAK AGAINST THE PIVOT NIPPLES ON THE MEDIAL PORTION OF THE POINTED BEAK WHEREBY THE PARTS ARE ASSEMBLED FOR ARTICULATE MOVEMENT. 